Foundation Updates
REGIONAL
8th Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility
On November 19 to 20, the 8th Annual AFCSR will be held in Manila.

Asian CSR award for
PBSP
PBSP received the Special Achievement Award
on September 19, 2003 during the 2nd Asian CSR
Forum held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The award honored PBSP’s contribution to
the promotion and development of CSR in the
Philippines and for setting the standard in the
Asian region. It also recognized PBSP’s more
than three decades of work in establishing
proven and sustainable models of business social
responsibility.

With the theme Sustaining CSR in Difficult Times: How business can
benefit and why it still makes business sense, the conference will
include plenary sessions, an expo on company CSR programs, field visits
to innovative CSR program sites, and workshops.
The highlight is the Asian CSR Awards, the premier awards program on
CSR. PBSP members and CSR partners are encouraged to send their entries
to the following categories: best workplace practices, concern for health,
environmental excellence, poverty alleviation, and support for education.
More info at http://www.asianforumcsr.com/.
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Innovations for the Base of the Pyramid in Southeast Asia
“I love crises. My company was borne from a crisis.” -- Cecilio Pedro, President and
CEO, Lamoiyan Corporation (a PBSP member)
Such was how Dr. Pedro began his message to micro, small and medium-scale
entrepreneurs at the PBSP Enterprise Development Forum, Innovating Business
in Challenging Times. Formerly an aluminum tube maker, Dr. Pedro was forced
to close shop and retrench 100 workers because of a shift in product packaging by
his major clients. A year later, Lamoiyan Corporation was founded. Today, Hapee
toothpaste, Lamoiyan’s most famous product, is the industry leader in children’s
toothpaste and commands about 20% of the toothpaste market.
Dr. Pedro provided concrete ways by which MSMEs could turn crises into business
opportunities. “There are so many (opportunities). You simply have to open your
eyes,” he said, providing inspiration to the more-than-expected-number of attendees
at the forum.
The event was co-presented by IBoP Asia Project, a partnership between Canada’s
International Development Research Centre and the Ateneo School of Government.
IBoP also supported the development of a casebook which features concrete results
of PBSP’s business advice to MSMEs catering to the bottom of the pyramid (BoP).
A sharing session is planned for Southeast Asia.
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NATIONAL
Tipid-Sulit Pinas! – Talk ‘N Text enterprise program with PBSP
Talk ‘N Text launched its Tipid-Sulit Pinas! Advocacy – a campaign that encourages
ingenuity and perseverance among Filipinos.
Talk ‘N Text found a partner in PBSP, whose Business in Development (BiD)
Challenge inspires enterprising Filipinos to create profitable businesses with social
impact or social relevance.
The partnership will help madiskarteng Pinoys through provision of start-up capital,
business coaching, investor connections, and a chance to represent the country in
the International BiD Challenge in the Netherlands.
PBSP is looking for more supporters to add to this powerhouse list: Talk ‘n Text, Citi
Philippines, Nestlé Philippines, Shell, and OikoCredit (Netherlands).
Join the BiD Challenge! Spread the word to your MSME contacts. Forward
Newsbytes. Visit www.pbsp.org.ph!
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Want to know more about strategic ways to express corporate citizenship? Ways
to benchmark your CC practices? Contribute to the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals? Contact pbsp@pbsp.org.ph! Share this Newsbytes issue
with other companies!
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MCs take a closer look at Rizal
Filipino artwork and cuisine… export-quality Philippine products…good CSR
practices - all make up an enriching CSR site visit for PBSP member-companies.
Representatives from Shell Philippines, Holcim Philippines, Sagittarius Mines, and
Bioessence enjoyed a daylong visit to PBSP sites – enterprises where the Business
Advisory Program (BAP) volunteer advisers are deployed - in Rizal.
First stop was CD Handicrafts in Angono, which is assisted by BAP in product
development. The group was impressed, not only with CD Handicrafts’ designs, but
also with its initiative to provide livelihood opportunities to the community.
Next on the list was the famous Balaw-Balaw Foods, which serves Filipino delicacies
like fermented shrimp and adobong itik. BAP assists the enterprise through financial
management advising. A hearty lunch at the Balaw-Balaw Restaurant, which has a
mini-museum showcasing Angono art works, was truly satisfying.
The final stop was the One Town One Product (OTOP) Island Fair at SM Megamall,
where new designs from BAP’s Rizal Houseware and Holiday Décor Cluster
were launched – an idea that came about through BAP’s assistance in product
development.
Eight MSMEs from Rizal, including CD Handicrafts, showcased their products
through PBSP and SM’s support.
Our CSR is alive in people’s lives! Experience PBSP’s CSR university! Visit our
sites! Contact pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.
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LUZON
PLDT-SMART Foundation builds e-learning center in Pampanga
PLDT, Smart Communications, and PBSP Chairman Manuel V Pangilinan recently
inaugurated a state-of-the-art e-learning center in San Vicente Central School,
Apalit, Pampanga.
PLDT-SMART Foundation took care of costs of the building construction, while PBSP
provided the equipment, peripherals, and furnishing, and monitored the construction
of the building. SMART Communications will train teachers on integrating ICT in
their teaching methods. The center also enjoys a one-year free Internet subscription
from PLDT.
Being a community center, the facility will also extend its services to the wider
Apalit community through trainings for out-of-school youth, and disaster prevention
monitoring, among others.
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3

VISAYAS
Employee-volunteers help save Cebu’s watershed
More than 200 employees and individuals planted 8,000 seedlings of indigenous
tree species to help save the Tabunan Forest.
Volunteers, including PBSP Visayas Regional Excom members Jose Levi Villanueva
(FVP, UnionBank) and Eileen Mangubat (Publisher, Cebu Daily News) joined the
kick off of a three-month long tree planting caravan organized by PBSP, Kantipla
Ecosystems Enhancement and Protection KEEP Foundation, and the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources.
Tabunan Forest is part of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape, home to
critically endangered Cebu cinnamon tree, the Cebu Black Shama and Cebu
Flowerpecker.
According to Global Trees Campaign, there were only 57 Cebu cinnamon trees in
Tabunan in 2004. PBSP, its partners and the community then started reforesting
Tabunan. By 2005, 691 species of the Cebu cinnamon tree were found, although
only 20 were considered mature.
We need companies and volunteers to reforest 2,500 hectares more and help 3,500
families in the Cebu hillylands.
Make the PBSP difference! Contact us at pbsp@pbsp.org.ph.
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Member Company Highlights
Water projects featured on Mercury TV
The next time you buy medicines from any Mercury Drug branch, you just might
catch infomercials of the company’s water project on its Mercury TV.
The infomercials tell of how beneficiaries’ lives have become better now that they
have access to water.
There’s Tinig in Muntinlupa whose savings from the water project are used to
improve its community, and even to buy Christmas gift packs for everyone.
Tinig has become a model community for PBSP’s STEP UP integrated poverty
reduction program.
Also, there’s the farming village of Estaca in Dagohoy, Bohol. The community is
now assured of a steady access to clean and safe drinking water.
Through PBSP, Tinig and Estaca are two of the communities which Mercury Drug
has provided access to clean water for.
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4

Petron scholars now in 2nd year
Some 300 scholars of the Petron Tulong Aral Program are now in their second
year in high school.
Since last year, these students have been receiving educational assistance from
Petron Foundation and its partner, Land Bank of the Philippines.
The educational assistance includes school supplies, uniform, school shoes and
transportation allowance. The scholars also participate in a communications skills
training, helping enhance their life skills.
Petron actively involves the scholars’ parents through seminars from the Department
of Social Welfare and Development.
The program is implemented through PBSP.

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People2People
Featured Donor:
Levi Strauss Foundation
“More than 25 years ago, Levi Strauss & Co. was the first company to not only
acknowledge HIV/AIDS, but also to apply significant resources towards its
eradication.”
In 2002, the Levi Strauss Foundation partnered with PBSP in conceptualizing the
HIV/AIDS in the Workplace Program, a pioneer program at that time.
The PBSP-developed program was adopted by many companies, including PBSP
member Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Inc. (CADP). CADP Group Corporation
eventually won the 2007 Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria award for its HIV/AIDS in the Workplace Program. http://www.gbcimpact.
org/itcs_node/4/530/program_summary/177
Levi Strauss Foundation also entrusted to PBSP its Donor-Advised Fund, which
provided grants to community-based enterprises.
Levi Strauss renews its ties with PBSP through a recent grant for the Paliparan
III Community Enterprise and Health Project. The Paliparan I and II Projects in
Cavite were initiated by First Philippine Holdings Corporation, a PBSP member.
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New Member:
Bioessence
Bioessence, an advocate of health and beauty, is the newest member of PBSP.
The company offers skin care, slimming and spa services.

5

Opened in 1994 with a three-bed clinic in Davao City, Bioessence now has over 20
branches nationwide - a proof that dreaming big and hard work are key ingredients
for success.
Bioessence provides an answer to today’s stressful lifestyle as it continues its
commitment to promote wellness in the country.
PBSP’s membership has grown to 248!

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On your Calendar
NAGA CITY, August 12
PBSP CSR Caravan 2009
Launch of Bicol Rehabilitation and Poverty Reduction Program
Magdalena Hall, Crown Hotel, Naga City, 8:00am - 5:00pm
CEBU CITY, August 19
Enterprise Development Forum Visayas in collaboration with the Mandaue
Chamber of Commerce
Jose Enrico Gandionco of Julie’s Franchise Corp. will challenge MSMEs to think
innovatively. Casino Espanol, 1:00-5:00 pm.
DAVAO CITY, August 26
Enterprise Development Forum Mindanao
ALBAY CITY, August 26
Lung Month Celebration
USAID/TB LINC to generate public and private support for tuberculosis
prevention and control. Albay in Bicol is a TB LINC priority site.
NATIONWIDE, August 30
Deadline of submission of entries
The Bid (Business in Development) Challenge Philippines is an annual business
plan competition. Viable ideas are matched with potential investors.
Visit www.bidnetwork.org/philippines
MAKATI CITY, October 7
14th Festival of Trees and Flowers
Fundraising event to benefit school children in Basilan and Maguindanao.
Celebrations! A floral fashion show featuring Manila’s top designers. Coorganized by PBSP and Makati Garden Club.
MAKATI CITY, November 19-20
8th Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility
Learn today’s best practices in CSR through workshops, plenary sessions,
expositions, and field visits led by a team of CSR experts and industry leaders.
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